Mobile workstations are the most powerful devices in the business segment. They should offer a combination of typical business features and powerful hardware that has been optimized for reliability, stability and performance. Comprehensive support options, system-specific accessories, long spare-parts availability and various warranty options, are typical for this class of devices. You can also often find ports that have already been discarded in consumer products but are still being used in companies. The product cycles in this segment are very long and can be as long as three years in some cases. The pricing in this premium segment usually starts at significantly more than 1000 USD/Euros and can quickly reach a few thousand Euros/Dollars.

As well as the above-mentioned factors, one of the main contributors to the cost is the graphics chips. Unlike the familiar consumer GPUs, they support special features and are designed for stability, compatibility and reliability in combination with certified software. These are not very interesting for private users, but can make a major difference for businesses.

Due to the long availability of mobile workstations, we look at devices from the last 18 months. The ranking can be different from the automated top list. The changes can include devices that have been on the market longer than 18 months, duplicates, review updates or highly recommended models according to the editorial point of view (price/performance, mobility, upgradeability, etc.). Deviations are explained in the respective editors' comments.

The prices are usually based on the review configuration. If this configuration is no longer available, then we have selected similarly equipped alternatives. We have also listed the starting price for each base configuration.

Performance is a key element of a mobile workstation. Mobile workstations in ultrabook format rather focus on mobility. While they are usually not poor notebooks, they seldom belong to the top models because of their significantly lower CPU and GPU performance.

We also liked the 4K display, which is equipped with an integrated calibration. The measurements are very good and the screen does not have to hide behind the competitors, either. The ThinkPad P71 is available with numerous components, so you can build it based on your own requirements.

Pricecompare

2nd - Dell Precision 7720

Dell Precision 7720

Dell's 17.3-inch workstation is called Precision 7720 and is currently the most powerful notebook from the American manufacturer. There is plenty of power thanks to the mobile Xeon processor and Nvidia's Quadro P5000, and you can use their performance. The cooling solution works well and is usually quiet, while the sturdy chassis features plenty of ports and is easy to maintain.

The 4K PremierColor display is basically very good, but we would have expect more for a hefty premium of more than 400 Euros. There is visible backlight bleeding, PWM, and the color accuracy could be better. You should calibrate the panel if possible.

Pricecompare

3rd - HP ZBook 15 G4

HP ZBook 15 G4

Two old rivals occupy the top two places: the HP ZBook 15 G4 and the Lenovo ThinkPad P51. Both achieved very good ratings of 89% in our test; the mobile workstation from HP is the more recent review however.

The current G4 generation continues with the case of the predecessor. This is not a negative aspect since it features a high quality and many interfaces. In terms of performance, our test configuration priced at more than 4500 Euros (~$5285) delivers the maximum. The biggest cost factors are the mobile Xeon processor and the lightning fast 1 TB SSD from Samsung. However, the Xeon does not necessarily pay off for all users, since its full performance is not available during prolonged load.

The Full HD IPS display of our test model is a good choice; especially after calibration. However, the optional DreamColor display is recommended for photo and video editing, since it covers an even larger color space. Another advantage is the long battery runtimes. Unfortunately, the system emits disturbing electronic noises depending on the load during everyday use.

Independent journalism is made possible by advertising. We show the least amount of ads whenever possible but we intentionally show more ads when an adblocker is used. Please, switch off ad blockers and support us!

Pricecompare

5th - Eurocom Tornado F5W

Eurocom Tornado F5W

If the performance of a mobile processor is not sufficient anymore, you need a desktop CPU. Eurocom equips the chassis of the MSI GT62 VR with powerful hardware. Besides the aforementioned Xeon processor, the Test Eurocom Tornado F5W (Xeon E3-1280 v5, Quadro P5000) WorkstationTornado F5W also sports a Quadro P5000 as well as 64 GB RAM. The 15.6-inch mobile workstation utilizes the performance very well and does not get too loud, either.

The port variety is a drawback, just like the TN panel if you need more accurate colors. You can also select two IPS panels (1080p & 4K).

Pricecompare

6th - HP ZBook Studio G4

HP ZBook Studio G4

HP wants to offer plenty of performance in a slim chassis with the ZBook Studio G4. The predecessor Studio G3 still had issues with very high temperatures. The Studio G4 is not a cool device by any means, but the situation is much better than before. The chassis is extremely well built and sports great input devices. Our test model was equipped with the optional DreamColor display (4K), which is generally very good. However, the only difference compared to the regular 4K option seems to be the additional software.

The DreamColor panel has another drawback, because it prevents the use of Optimus. This means the dedicated GPU is active all the time, which reduces the battery runtimes of the supposedly mobile device drastically. Some features you expect from a mobile workstation (no WWAN, no SmartCard reader) are missing as well.

Pricecompare

7th - Fujitsu Celsius H970

Fujitsu Celsius H970

The 17-inch workstation from Fujitsu follows the current design language of the manufacturer and is available with powerful components, including the new Quadro graphics cards based on Nvidia's current Pascal architecture. The GPU of the H970 does not have any temperature problems, but the Xeon processor is slightly too much for the cooling system. Moreover, the cooling is very loud at about 48 dB(A), which is disturbing in the long run. The H970 might be able to better handle a "smaller" processor.

The IPS display convinces with high brightness and contrast. However, high-resolution models with enhanced color space are not even optionally available. Hence, graphic designers have to use an external monitor. Another problem is that the keyboard can be too yielding. Therefore, it depends on the intended usage whether the Celsius H970 is suitable or not.

Pricecompare

8th - Dell Precision 5520

Dell Precision 5520

The trend towards more compact models also exists in the mobile workstation range. Those who travel frequently and do not need the most powerful graphics cards will soon come across the Precision 5520 from Dell, the professional counterpart of the popular Dell XPS 15. You will get a very high-end and compact case, which easily fits into every briefcase. However, loud fans and high temperatures are to be expected in return if you apply load to the laptop. Moreover, the mobile Xeon processor is slightly too much for the cooling system.

The high-resolution display is another advantage. It is very bright and already has low deviations of grayscales and colors out-of-the-box. However, it is a glossy touchscreen, which might put several users off. In addition, the color coverage does not fully meet the value specified by Dell.